Liquid jet firefighting apparatus for use in burning masses material and in flame-filled spaces in general

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for extinguishing fires having one or more tubular rods having at their ends nozzles which receive, through the hollow interior of said rods, a liquid extinguishing material provided by the action of a pump. The apparatus extinguishes fires by supplying the liquid extinguishing material, through the hollow interior of the rods, to the interior of the fires.

United States Patent Inventor Pasquale Cocco Cuneo, Italy (Michelangelo Bovi Corso Vittorio Emanulle No. 74, Turin, Italy) Appl. No. 762,892 9 Filed Sept. 26, 1968 Patented Mar. 2, 1971 Priority Oct. 7, 1967 Italy 818,615

LIQUID JET FIREFIGHTING APPARATUS FOR USE IN BURNING MASSES MATERIAL AND IN FLAME-FILLED SPACES IN GENERAL 13 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 169/2, 239/205 Int. Cl A62c 25/00 Field of Search 169/2; 239/205 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,644,290 10/1927 Titcomb et a1 l69/2(X) 2,699,216 II] 955 Allen 239/205 2,857,005 10/1958 Medlock 169/2 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: An apparatus for extinguishing fires having one or more tubular rods having at their ends nozzles which receive, through the hollow interior ofsaid rods, a liquid extinguishing material provided by the action of a pump. The apparatus extinguishes fires by supplying, the liquid extinguishing material, through the hollow interior of the rods, to the interior of the fires Ii I v 113V i PATENTEDMAR m 3.566371 I SHEET 3 BF 9 AsQv L: Cocco 3y! Muff M I IIIII'A TNvEN-rorz: 'BZNWALE cocca WW1. M

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SHEET 8 BF 9 llu TNVEN'NR: zSQl/ALE Cbcw PATENTEU MAR 2m 3566.971 SHEET 9 OF 9 f 11 gcgm "Ewen/m2: A saw/us Qccp z, MMKM M The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in the extinguishing of fires that may break out in inflammable masses composed of straw, coal, rags, bales of cotton, etc., as well as in spaces in general, in which it is possible to introduce one or more rods, especially in cases where the situation of the said fires is such that they are not easily reached by the action of firefighting equipment already known which act by the projection of a jet of liquid, powder or gas from a distance. The firefighting apparatus according to the present invention, by contrast,extinguishes fires by means of the supply of aliquid extinguishing element, preferably water, to the inside of the fires above referred to.

The apparatus is provided withone or more tubular rods having at their ends nozzles which receive,.through the hollow interior of the rod or rods, the liquidextinguishing element,

which is provided by the action of a pump. Being pointed at the end or ends, the rod or rods, can, when suitably guided, be driven deep into the fires so as to reach spaces within the same; the liquid so injectedstrikes the burning parts near or in contact with therod or rods, cooling and extinguishing the 'burning parts and, in the case of fires in masses as above described, enters into the free spaces between said parts; the liquid, moreover, leaves the nozzles in the form of a spray and, due to the fact that it comes into contact with an area which has reached a very high temperature, is, with respect to that the apparatus according to portion not absorbed by 'the burning parts as already I described, rapidly converted to steam, the conversion itself resulting in the absorption of a considerably number of calories. The steam, as it passes through other still burning parts, becomes superheated and isdecomposed to the point where it forms part of the combustion gases; when the extinguishing liquid is water, the gas so formed during the extinguishing process is carried upwards and burns with'a bluish flame; if the penetration operation is repeated several times at different points, total extinction of the fire will be obtained. For this reason, the apparatus, in order that it may carry out the penetration operations, is essentially composed of two parts, one of which serves a subsidiary purpose, whereas the other is devoted to the effective implementation of the task of extinguishing the fire; the first, or accessory part, is composed of a, group of coaxial tubes, each sliding inside theothers in the form of a telescope; this first part has the accessory task of carrying, by means of the action of the liquid, the second of the parts as near to the fire possible, and the first part is also provided with a support, the same being extended in a telescopelike manner and being an essential feature of the present invention when the apparatus is of considerable size. The second part which is responsible for the task of putting out the fire, is formed of one or more rods, as previously mentioned.The rods, in order that they may carry out the task of penetration as above described, are mounted on a trolley, of cylindrical or prismatic section, the same being also moved; either forwards or backwards, by the action of the liquid, within the tube with the smallest diameter of the first part; the second part, therefore, having been brought by the first'part into the most suitable position for the extinction operation, is

I used for thecompletion of this operation since, by means of must be fitted with accessories and with an electrical plant, the a diagram of said plant being omitted from the accompanying drawings for the reason that known criteria are employed in its design and construction.

The apparatus according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

, contrast withthe tip 1 and shaft 4, is movement, but is fixed, with respect .the outer surface of the horizontal section of the apparatus of the FIG. 1;

FIG. ,4 is the orthogonal transverse section at the median axis of the apparatus along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is the group of devices indicated as 103 on FIGS. 1 and 2 drawn on a larger scale;

FIG. 6A is a side view of a detail of the apparatus drawn at an enlarged scale;

, FIG. 6B is a section taken along line IIB-IIB of FIG. 6A; FIG. 6C is a section taken along line IIC-IIC of FIG. 6A; FIG. 6D is a sectiontaken along line IID-IID of FIG. 6A FIG. 7 is a section, on the median vertical plane, of the trolley indicated as 14 on FIGS. 2 and 3, drawn on a larger scale;

FIG. 8 is a section on the median horizontal plane of the trolley shown in FIG. 7; r

FIG. 9 is a vertical section of a second form of the apparatus according to the invention, passing through the median plane.

With reference to FIGS. l-8, illustrating the first form of the present invention, the component parts of the invention are as follows:

tip 1 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6), activated by a rotary movement,

which, by means of the said movement, impartedto it by means of the small turbine 2 (FIGS, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8) via the reducer gear 3 (FIGS; 2, 3, 7, 8) and the shaft 4 (FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8) has the task of carrying out, in the case of fires involving masses of material, or in spaces where there are obstructions, the penetration movement? of the rod 7, at the end of which said tip 1, which thus carries out a perforation function is fitted; the tip 1 is, inaddition, provided with knives or cutting edges 5 (FIG. 6); arranged on the outer surface of the tip 1 along a line suitable for the carrying out of the perforation action, the external surface also presents the orifices of the nozzles 6 (FIGS. 1,2, 3, 6), for the exit of the extinguishing liquid in spray form; the tip I is also provided with a threaded seat 8 (FIG. 6) in the internal wall of the base of its cylindrical trunk; the seat 8 is designed to receive, by means of screwing, the end of the rotating shaft 4. V

The rod 7 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8) is, in the same .way as the tip 1, provided with nozzles 6 for the exit of the extinguishing liquid; to prevent interference with the penetration movement of the rod 7 or with its sliding along the surface of the guide elements of the first part of the apparatus, the nozzles 6 of the rod 7 are carriedin a special seat formed within the thickness of the wall 'of the rod 7. The function of the rod 7 is that of entering into contact, together with the tip I, with burning parts and then, by means of the nozzles 6, of extinguishing jet of liquid emanating from the the burning parts. The rod 7, by not subjected to rotary to the drawings, at its right-hand side to the head of the trolley 14 (FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8) which is subjected solely to a backward and a forward motion; the rod 7 is thereforelinked to the rotatable tip I by means of the bearing 10 (FIG. 6) positioned between the seat formed by base of the cylindrical trunk of the tip land that formed around the inside surface of the end of the rod 7 opposite to that used for the attachment of the trolley or piston 14; this hearing must be watertight to prevent the escape of liquid. The end of the rod- 7 is provided with a seat 11 (FIG. 6) on its outer surface, around which, and surrounding it, rotates the cylindrical extension of the external. part of the tip, this arrangement being indispensable for thepurpose of avoiding the intrusion of material between the neighboring terminal walls of the rod and the tip. i

On the inside of the end of the rod 7, there is anelement 9 (FIG. 6) which, with respect to the liquid side, is parabolically concave and is rotatable withthe tip 1, the element 9 being joined, by means of its other side, to the flat terminal surface of the base trunk of the tip itself; the element 9, therefore, ensures a more perfect watertight fit of the bearing 10, being set frontally to and in contact with the latter and also, by reason of its concavity, serves to send forward the liquid, by drawing it into its own rotary motion, so that the liquid enters more readily into the orifices of the nozzles 6. The rod 7 is provided with a groove and pawls 12 (FIG. 2), located in these grooves, serve to prevent any rotary movement that might be imparted to the rod 7, and thus to the trolley 14, as a result of resistance encountered by the tip 1, in the case of fires occurring in masses of material or encumbered spaces, during the rotation that forms part of perforating action.

The shaft 4 (FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8), the terminal part of which is joined to the tip 1 passes inside the rod 7 and is linked, at the end opposite to the said terminal part, and through the watertight washer 13 (FIGS. 7, 8) to the reducer gear 3 (FIGS. 2, 3, 7 8) which serves to impose a suitable limit on the rotation of the small turbine 2 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8), to which it is joined for that purpose; the washer 13 serves to prevent the entry of liquid into the reducer gear.

The shaft 4, rotatable within the nonrotating rod 7, is supported in the latter by means of the bearing 15 (FIGS. 2, 3, 6), each of which is fitted around the shaft 4 and inside a suitable ring 16 (FIG. 6), the ring 16 being provided with holes to permit the passage of the extinguishing liquid. The shaft 4 is composed of several lengths, each joined to the other by means of suitable joints 17 (FIGS. 2, 3) so as to enable the shaft 4 to be made as long as-possible. The joints serve to cut down to a great extent the disadvantages of strain due to dilation, oscillation and bending, the last of which may, on account of its relative projection, have a certain effect.

As far as dilation is concerned, it may be noted that, when experiments were carried out with a sample rod, using water at a flow rate of 5 litres per second and inserting the sample into a mass of coal burning at 1300 C., the sample was found to have reached a temperature of only 30 C. after 4 min., this time being assumed to represent the amount of time needed for the penetration of the rod 7; it is to be assumed, therefore, that, due to the cooling action of the water continuously flowing in the rod and of that being supplied through its nozzles, the rod 7 is not subject to such variations of temperature as might cause it to become seriously dilated and no special measure is, as a result, necessary to prevent the effects of such dilation.

The extinguishing liquid is pumped by pump 105 through the pipe 52 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5) into the space 51 (FIGS. 2,3, 7, 8) and passes via the valve 31, from the conduit 29 (FIGS. 3, 4, 8) communicating with the rod 7, through the holes in the ring 16 and thence into the space between the shaft 4 and the rod 7. From here, the liquid escapes, in part, from the nozzles 6 in the rod and, with respect to its remaining part, continues as far as the element 9, by which the remaining part is drawn into a rotary movement and thus passes more readily into the orifices of the nozzles 6 of the tip 1. In this way, the remaining part of the liquid, by passing through these latter nozzles, passes to the outside of the apparatus.

The reducer gear (FIGS. 2', 3, 7, 8) has the purpose to reduce the speed of rotation of the small turbine 2, since the said speed is very high and, as a result, incompatible, with the functional needs of the system.

The small turbine 2 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8); this is of the Pelton type so as to obtain the greatest possible reduction of its size; its task, is to impart a rotary movement to the tip 1, via the reducer gear 3 and the shaft 4.

The trolley 14 (FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8), of cylindrical shape, is firmly attached to the rod 7; as already stated, it can be shifted backwards and forwards within the tube of smallest diameter, in which it is located. The watertight washers of the trolley slide along the inner surface of said tube.

The trolley 14, together with the tip 1, the shaft 4, the small turbine 2 and the reducer gear 3 which it contains, forms the equipment designed to enter into action during the period in which the actual operation of extinguishing the fire is being carried out, that is to say the period between the start of the forward movement of the rod 7, and therefore of the trolley 14, and the return of thesame two parts to their most rearward position.

Since it has this function, the trolley 14 must be so constructed as to allow rationally planned connection of its said contained elements, as well as the movement within itself of the liquid, which, as already stated, is sent through the space 51 by the pump and is used for actual extinguishing, to which reference has just been made. In order to obtain this movement, the head of the trolley 14, on the side corresponding to the space 51, is fitted with valves 30 (FIGS. 2, 7) and 31 (FIGS. 3, 8) which are attached to the pipes 28 (FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8) and 29 (FIGS. 3, 4, 8) respectively, the former pipe being used for the supply of the liquid to the small turbine 2, the latter for the sending forward of the extinguishing liquid to the rod 7 and to the tip]; the valves 30, 31, and the elements already referred to, are arranged in the trolley 14 in three distinct compartments. The compartments are watertight and the center compartment houses the small turbine 2 with the attachment of the pipe 27 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8) which, by means of the pump 108, empties the small turbine. The compartment on the left, with respect to the drawings, houses the reducer gear 3, and that on the right contains the valves 30, 31 with their respective connecting attachments; this last compartment also houses a control device which, in accordance with the requirements of the extinguishing operation, either opens or closes the valves 30, 31, at the start of the forward travel and at the return to its most rearward position, respectively, of the rod 7. This device is composed of a small motor 20 (FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8), a cable 21 (FIGS.'1, 2, 3, 7, 8) and a small rod 23 (FIGS. 2', 7). The said small rod 23, in order to carry out its task of opening and closing the valves 30, 31, to which it is linked by means of a second small rod 33, the latter being set transversely to the former is shifted in either direction by reason of the rotary movement of a group of gears 24 (FIGS. 2, 7); the said group carries a wheel splined to the axle of the small motor 20, with the result that the motor 20 turns the wheel in either the one or the other direction, according to the rotation required, as well as a second, actuating wheel, mounted on a suitable threaded length of the small rod 23, with its axial hole screwed to the threaded length and held immovable by a special support fixed to the main support 22 (FIG. 7). With this arrangement, the opening or closing of each of the valves occurs simultaneously, as required by the functioning of the telescopic system. In addition, the control device is connected to the electrical plant of the apparatus, according to the invention, via a switch 32 (seen on the lower part of FIG. 5) a waterproof cable 21 and two circuits 18 (FIG. 7). The circuits, to which the cable 21 branches, are so arranged that each of them causes the small motor 20 to turn in one of the two directions already referred to. Via the pinion 34 (FIG. 7), one or the other circuit is connected and, during each of the connections in question, the circuit involved is open, in the sense that the current brought to it by the cable 21 will not pass through it; it therefore follows that the passage of current, and hence the corresponding rotation of the small motor 20 and the consequent shifting of the small shaft 23, as well as that of the valves, can only occur when the circuit is closed, the closure being actuated by means of the switch 32. Therefore, if the operation of the apparatus requires the changing of the position of the valves 30, 31, this must be brought about by the use of the switch 32 which will lead to the movement of the small rod 23 in one or the other direction, according .to which of the two connections was being used before the switch was employed; since the control device is formed in the way described, when the valves 30, 31 are open the connection via the pinion 34 must be that relating to the circuit which, when activated, via the switch 32, brings about the rotary movement of the small motor 20 in the direction that will cause the closing of the said valves, whereas when the valves are closed, the connection will be that corresponding to the other circuit which, again by means. of the switch 32, causes the small motor 20 to rotate in the opposite direction, namely in that causing the opening of the valves. By employing the switch 32 at the moment when the rod 7 begins its forward travel andthen again when it reenters its maximum rearward travel position, the result will be that theopening and the closing ofth'evalves will be obtained at the times at which the valves must begin and cease their action in accordance with what has already been stated. With respect to the movement of the extinguishing liquid during the time in which the valves are open, this can be described in summary fashion by stating that the liquid, being driven along the pipe 52 by the pump 105 into the space 5l,'passes from the space 51, with regard to one of its portion, to the valve 30. and. thus to the pipe 23, with the result that this portion, via the terminal nozzles of the pipe 23 (also indicated by the number 28 in FIG: 4), actuates the small turbine 2, and, with regard to the secondportion, passes along the pipe 29 and-the rod 7 and escapes from the nozzles 6 in the rodl 7 an d .thetip 1;,the third andlast portion which passes into the space 511 is used tobring.

about the forward travel of the rod 7. I

The apparatus according to theinvention also includesthe following parts:

Coaxial tubes, three in number 37, 38 39 (FIGSA, 2, 4, 7, 8), of stainless steel and cylindricalin shape; the number can be increased or reduced .in practice as required; the tubes are of progressively larger diameter and are arranged so thatthey can be shifted in a telescopelike manner by the action .ofithe liquid. The arrangement is as follows: with referenceto the drawings, tube 37 has, at its right-handend; abush 40(FIGS. 2, 3), fitted with suitablewashers, which slideswatertighton the suitable ground and chrome-plated inner surface of the tube 38; the tube 38, in its turn, is fitted, onits right-hand end, with respect to the drawing,with a bush 42L and,on.the inside of its other end, with a second bush 4!; the bushes 42, 41also carry washers and, in the same way as bush .40 of tube 37, slide watertight on the ground and chrome-plated surfaces of. the inside of tube 39 and the inside of tube 37respectively;

The tube 39 is, like tube 37, fittedwith asingle bush.43 which, in this case, is attached to the left-hand end of tube 39, with respect to the drawing; this bush 43, during the telescopic movement of the tube 38, slides in the same watertight manner as the other bushes, on the outside ground and chrome-plated surface" of tube 38. The tube 39, unlike tubes 37 and 38, cannot move and, in fact, serves as an anchorageof.

the telescopic system to the fixedparts of the apparatus, it is attached to the parts by its right-hand end, with respect to the drawing. Being arranged in this way, the three tubes 37, 38, 39'

form interspaces 45, 46 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4) which, by reason of the washers fitted to the tubes, are watertight; the. interspaces become longer or shorter, due to the flow and reflow of the liquid they contain, according to whether the tubes are moving forwards or backwards. In addition, around tube 37 and connected, with respect to the drawing, to the left-hand head of the trolley 14, there is a system of short coaxial cylinders 47 (FIGS. 2, 3) which being formed of elements whose length is much shorter than that of tube 37tand. of that ofthe other two tubes, and being also moved telescopically, do not impede the shifting of the trolley in either directionnor the expansionor the contraction of the apparatus as a whole. The systemof cylinders 47 is so mountedthat, with respecttothe drawings, the first or largest of its elements is attached watertight inside the left-hand end of the tube'37, and the last or shortest isattached watertight to the part of the trolley 14 anchored to the right-hand end of the rod 7; the cylinders 47 slide one inside the other by means of bushes 48 (FIGS. 2, 3) which, for this reason, are watertightand provided with washers in the same way as the bushes ofthe tubes; to ensure their centered sliding. The cylinders47 hear, at the end opposite to thatc ontaining the bush, rings 49-, suitably perforated to'allow the flow of the liquid which, during the already-described movement, will pass between the cylinders. The space thus created, formed by theexternal surfaceof the short cylinders 47, the interior surface of the tube 37, the left-hand end sealing wall of the tube 37 with respect to the drawings, and the surface of the trolley head involved in the said anchorage to the rod 7, constitutes the third interspace 50 (FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8) which, as in the case of the other interspaces 45, 46, isfilled with liquid. The interspace 50', for which and solely for which the system of short cylinders has been provided, is necessary in the sense that without it regular functioning of the system cannot be obtained; as will be seen later, this interspace 50 is designed to drive the trolley 14 forwards and backwards due to the effect of the movement of the liquid contained within theinterspace 50. In addition, since the surfaces of the diametrical section, corresponding to the bushes 40, 41, of the end of the tubes 37, 38 are'not provided with anyform of partition between the inside of the one and of the other of these tubes, that is to say they are all open, the group of tubes 37, 38, 39 forms, with respectto its interior, as can be seen from the drawings.(FlGS. 2, 3, 7, 8), the already mentioned space 51. This space, however, is confined axially, .oh one 'side, by the trolley 14. and, on

.the other side, by the wall of the tank 61 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3) about which more will be said later; on account of the above-mentioned sliding washers as well as ofthe fixed washers of the tank,'this space 51 is also watertight; since it is situated in the central part of the tubes, the space Slfollows the telescopic movement of thetubes and the trolley 14, these being, in fact, the elements of which said space is composed. The space 51 as in the case of the interspaces, is occupied by the liquid which is sent via the piping 52 by the pump and is employed both for'the telescopic movement of the tubes and the trolley, for the supply of the small'turbine2 and for the extinction of the fire. It is to be noted that the space 51 is separated from the interspaces 45, 46, 50; this separation is created by parts that are watertight with respect to each other, namely, they surround, with washers, of the trolley 14, and the bushes 40, 42, each of the latter being attached to the wall of its respective tube 37, 38; the said separation, since its said constituent parts, in the same way as the telescopically moving. elements to which they belong, can move axially and independently of each other, forms, between the space 51 and the already-mentioned. interspaces, a dividing partition, the same being equally able to articulate itself independently withthe:

constituent parts themselves; in particular, the surface of the partition, considered as facing theinside of the interspaces, is. formed, with respect to interspace 46, by the wall of the bush 40 and, with respect to interspace 50, by the rod-side headof the trolley,14, the said surface, considered as facing the space 51, is formed of thersum of the walls which the said parts display towards the space itself, that is to say of the complex of parts making up the bushes 40, 43, each of these being joined to the thicknessof the respective tubes. 37, 38, plus the wall of the head of the trolley opposite to the head just mentioned;

It is also to be noted that, for the form of the invention indicated in the drawings, the movements of the telescopic elements, that is of the tubes, 37, 38, and of the trolley 14 must take place individually; this type of action has been chosen, in so far as the said movementscould be obtained in a different fashion, or even simultaneously, because the said action is, in

practical terms, more functional. With the above consideraspace relating to the telescopic element whose movement is' required, that is interspace 46 for shifting tube 38 interspace 45for shifting tube 37, and interspace 50 for shifting the trolley 14, there will be a forward increase: in volume of the space 51 equal to that of the quantity of liquid inserted and a simultaneous, proportional decrease in the size of the interspace which, of those previously, mentioned is involved in the for;

ward travel in question; this reduction in size will correspond to the shift that will be imparted to the end of the telescopic element being used in the direction of the forward movement already referred to and into the space 51, on account of the forward increase of its volume as just mentioned; the said interspaces, therefore, for the purpose of the escape of liquid from the same, are each provided with an orifice connected to a discharge pipe, as follows: via pipe 53 (FIGS. 1,2, 4, for

the orifice of interspace 46, via pipe 54, (FIGS. 1, 2, 5) for the orifice of interspace 45, and via pipe 55 for the orifice of interspace 50. On account of their discharging function, these orifices allow the maximum forward extension of their cor responding telescopic element to be obtained and are arranged in the ends of their respective interspaces as follows: the first orifice, relating to interspace 46, at bush 43, the second, relating to interspace 45, at bush 41, and the third, relating to interspace 50, at the closing wall, forward travel side, of tube 37; furthermore, for obvious reason, the said orifices are formed at the lower generatrix of their said interspaces.

Bleed holes 44 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4) are provided in accordance with the upper generatrix of each tube and allow the escape of any air that may collect in the space 51 and in the interspace during the operation of the system. Supports 58 (FIGS. 2, 3); these serve to guide pipe 27, since this pipe, being connected to trolley 14 for the purpose of emptying the small turbine 2, must be able to follow the forward and rearward movements of the said trolley; these supports must be so fixed that they do not cause an obstruction to the rearward movement. For this reason, the space 59 (FIGS. 2, 3) has been created near the stop line 56, the space 59 being able to receive both the projections represented by the supports 58 and those of the valves 30, 31, when all the telescopic elements are in the maximum rearward travel position.

The supports 58 and the space 59 are so arranged that the ends of the telescopic elements, in the maximum rearward travel position, are all in line with the line 56.

Supports 60 (FIGS. 2, 3) for the cable 21 perform the same task as the supports 58 perform for the pipe 27 and the same criteria of arrangement must therefore be applied in their case.

Tank 61 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3), attached watertight to cylindrical tube 39 is completely full of liquid and is'in communication with the space 51 via the holes for the passage of pipe 27 and of cable 21 as well as via other holes, these latter being specially designed to facilitate the attainment of variations in the liquid in the tank 61 due to increases or decreases in quantity created during the forward and reentry motions, and hence greater or lesser displacement, of the pipe 27 and the cable 21, these latter, for the type of apparatus presented in the drawings, being mounted on special rotatable reels so that the required movement can be carried out.

The tank 61 has the task of containing the terminal length of the dual-purpose (filling and emptying) pipe 52, as well the reel 62 (FIGS. 2, 3) and the reel 63, (FIGS. 2), the reels hearing the wound length of the emptying pipe 27 and of the cable 21. The tank 61 also contains accessory elements designed to ensure, in time with the rotation of the reels, the correct winding and unwinding of the pipe 27 and the cable 21,

These synchronizing elements are essential in the sense that, without them, the pipe 27, being required to follow the forward and rearward travel of the trolley 1.4 would eventually become tangled up and would thus halt the telescopic movement.

The accessory elements include a spiral spring 73 which causes the reels 62, 63, to rotate in the winding up direction when the tubes and the trolley, after carrying out their forward movement, are to be again brought to the rear. The spring 73 must be located in a separate compartment, watertight with respect to the passage of the extinguishing liquid; for this reason, each point of entry to such compartment must be provided with a watertight washer.

Further components of the apparatus according to the invention comprise a support formed of slidable elements (FIGS. 1, 2) which are of special importance when the apparatus according to the invention is of greater size. The support is designed to take the combined weight of the telescopic tubes since, these when fully extended, are subjected to a considerable bending moment. The task of the slidable support is to ensure, by means of its weight-bearing function, that the line of lowering of the individual tubes, in the fully extended position, does not exceed a point beyond which the bushes, for which, as is known, a degree of play no greater than 03 mm. is allowed in devices of the present kind, would be subjected to a force that, by impeding their ability to slide, would lead to their early replacement due to wear.

The support 85 is composed of a fixed element 86(FIGS. 1, 2) and the movable elements 87 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4) and 88 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4). These three elements are independent and are arranged so that element 86 acts as a guide to element 87 and element 87 acts as a guide to element 88; each of the three elements acts as support for its respective tube, namely element 86 (fixed) for the (fixed) tube 39, and elements 87 and 88 (both movable) for the movable tubes 38 and 37 respectively.

The supporting action referred to is-performed by means of the parts indicated as 90, 91 and 92 (FIGS. 1, 2); these parts are, with respect to one of their sides, fixed to the end of one of the tubes and, with respect to their other side, to the end of the support element corresponding to the tube in question; each of the movable elements 87, 88 will therefore shift in such a way as to exactly follow the movements of the tube to which it is attached.

The elements run inside each other and must be constructed of hollow profiles to reduce the weight. The extension and retraction of the movable elements 87, 88 takes place as a.

result of the forces which draw the tubes, to which the said elements are attached, forwards and backwards.

A cooling arrangement is partly formed of three pipes 96, 97, 98 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5) which pass in the form of a ring around the end of each tube, then in a straight line along the respective support part and finally, again in the form of a ring, around the end of the support element corresponding to each tube. The pipes 96, 97, 98 are supplied with a cooling liquid which, in the case of the apparatus according to the invention, will be the same as that used for the extinction of the fire, through the pipe 99 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5) which is connected via the gate valve 89 to the pump 105 and the cooling liquid passes from the pipe 99 to the pipe 96 and thence, via the flexible pipe (FIGS. 1, 2) to pipe 97 and thence, via the flexible pipe 101 to pipe 98; the connecting pipes 100, 101, which must be equal in length to the total extension of the respective telescopic unit, will take up the form of a catenary curve whenever such extension is not fully complete. In addition, all the pipes 99, 96, 100, 97, 101, 98 are intercommunicating at all times; for this reason, the cooling arrangement is brought in action simply by opening the above-mentioned gate valve 89 which, when open, allows the liquid to pass directly to the pipe 99 and thence freely to the other pipes 96, 100, 97, 101, 98. The opening of the gate valve 89, and the consequent coming into operation of the cooling arrangement, takes place at the moment at which the trolley 14 and the rod 7 begins its forward travel; the closure of the gate valve takes place when the trolley returns to its point of origin; in other words, the cooling arrangement remains in operation during the whole time in which the rod 7 is in use. The liquid in the cooling arrangement, after its introduction, is then driven, in the form of a thin spray, through' the nozzles provided along the rings i formed around the ends of the telescopic tubes and the supmust, so that the apparatus in question can be brought'as near as possible to the fire, be installed on a suitable vehicle, such as a trolley or a self-propelled means. The telescopic equipment, thus arranged, can be shifted into position by small movements of said vehicle, even in the horizontal sense; such horizontal and vertical movements mean that the rod.7, as already indicated, can be brought into action at any point of the fires. A structure for vertical shifting is not shown in the drawings since any of the numerous already-known structure can be employed.

The apparatus according to the present invention also includes the complex indicated by the number 103 in (FIGS. 1, 2, and illustrated on a larger scale in FIG. said complex must be mounted on the support surface of the above-mentioned vehicle intended for the transport of the apparatus and is composed of the following elements-z Motor 104 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5) and pumps 105,106, 108, as well as valves and parts required for the drawing off and the delivery of liquid derived from such pumps, and other accessory elements.

Motor 104 is used for activating the pumps 105, 106, 10.8;

for this purpose, the motor of the self-propelled vehicle can be used and, in the same way, the electrical plant of the apparatus according to the invention can be supplied with energy by the said vehicle.

The pump 108 is used for emptying the small turbine 2 of its liquid via the pipe 27; pump 105, of centrifugal type, is responsible for the delivery of all the liquid required for the operation of the telescopic complex, such liquid being drawn from the tank 135 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5), of which more will be said later; the liquid thus supplied by pump 105 must be sufficient to furnish the three separate flows that are employed as follows: one, through the pipe 52, for the cooling arrangement; the second, also via pipe 52, for filling space 51 and, thence, for the forward movement of the tubes and the trolley and for the operations of extinguishing the fire and supplying the small turbine 2; the third, for sending the liquid, via the pipe 107 (FIG. 5.) to the secondary, centrifuge-type pump 106 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5), which sends the third head, via pipes 53, 54, 55, into the interspaces 45, 46, 50 and thus carries out the rearward movement.

The. presence of this secondary pump 106 is rendered necessary by the fact that, during provision of liquid for the rearward movement, the flows and the pressures connected I I stant number of revolutions per minute.

In the rearward movement operation, the flows of the two pumps act in opposite directions, the first having its flow directedagainst the wall of the partition facing the space 51, the second, by contrast, having its flow directed against the opposite wall i.e. against the partition wall facing the inside of the interspace concerned in the rearwardmovement.

To ensure smooth operation of the rearward movement, the opposing flow actions must be suitably equilibrated with respect to their thrust surfaces, these being invariable by construction. The said equilibration is obtained by ensuring that the pumps 105, 106 respond to the following criteria during the whole time that the apparatus according to the invention is in use: pump 105 must function with a head and a flow equal to the maximum head and the maximumflow required by all the demands made on said pump for the normal performance of the various stages involved in the forward travel movement,

.there being an exception to this rule in the case of the activation of the rod 7 when the rod is used for penetration into masses of material or into encumbered spaces. In effect, the head and the flow of the pump must, on account of the resistance encountered during the penetration operation, vary in accordance with such increased load; this exception, however, does not lead to any irregularity in the functioning of the system since, during said activation of the rod 7, the pump 106 is discharging through the valve 137, of which more will be said later and is thus not subject to the above-mentioned equilibration conditions; in the same way, pump 106 must function with a head and a flow equal. to the maximum head and the maximum flow required by all the demands made on the said pump for the normal performance of each of the stages of rearward travel movement,

Valves and parts required for the drawing off and the delivery of the liquid derived from pumps 105, 106, and other I accessory elements comprised in the complex 103; the activation criteria already referred to make it'necessary to provide a number of relief valves and that these, during the operation of the apparatus according to the invention, and during each of its various functional stages, be these the rearward or the forward movements or the standstill condition of the telescopic elements, should be able to provide for the proper drawing off of liquid that is in excess with respect to the requirements of the stage in question; furthermore, the same criteria require that said valves, when in operation,- carry out their total drawoff function only when, in the upstream section from the point of view of their outlet, the pressure value is such as to keep the head of said pumps unchanged throughout all the said stages, with the exception, as already stated, of the penetration of the rod 7 into masses of material or into encumbered spaces, since, in these circumstances, the pressure above-referred to will be greater, without, however, affecting the normal operation of the system.

According to the criteria laid down, with respect to the types shown on the drawings, said valves will be as follows: valve 109 (FIG. 5), for the drawing off of fiow Q from pump 105 when the telescopic system is halted during the activation of tubes 38 or 37, or when either one or other of the tubes is in the forward travel stage; valve 110 for drawing off excess liquid from space 51 during the forward travel of tube 38; valve- 111 for the drawing off of excess liquid from space 51 during the forward travel of tube 37; valve 112 for drawing off the liquid that tube 38 shifts into the :interior of tube 39, or into space 51, during its rearward movement; valve 113 for the drawing off of the liquid that tube 37 shifts into tube 38, or into space 51, during its rearward movement; valve 114 for the drawing off of the liquid which the trolley 14 shifts into tube 37, or into space 51, during its rearward movement; valve 115 for the drawing off of the excess liquid in space 51 when there is a change from the activation of the rod 7, or of the activation of the trolley 14, on account of the requirements of the extinguishing operation, to a condition in which the trolley is at a standstill; for obvious reasons, all the above-mentioned valves are located along the base length of the main pipe 52 and said length must be in stainless steel, in contrast with the rubber or similar material used for the remainder of the pipe 52.

In addition, there is a valve 137 situated at the end of the conduit 125. This valve 137, as will be explained, will be shut during the output operation of the pump 1%, that is during the rearward travel movement for which flow Q, relating to such output, is sent, via the conduit 125, to the interspaces;

the same valve 137 will be open during the other stages, namely the forward travel and the standstill stage of the telescopic elements, since the flow Q, during these other stages, is discharged via the conduit 126 into the recovery tank 135.

There are, furthermore, relief valves 116, 117, 118 for the three interspaces, that is one valve for each of the pipes 53, 54, 55. connected to the interspaces; these valves open only during the forward travel movement since, in the case of rearward travel, there is obviously no drawing off of liquid from said interspaces, whereas, in the standstill stage, the respective drawoff, as a result of the criteria already explained, is equal to flow Q of pump 106 and is directed to valve 137.

Each of the relief valves, therefore, serves to draw off all the liquid which, on account of the forward travel of the telescopic element corresponding to the valve in question, is expelled from the interspace involved in the movement: thus; flow Qsl, relating to interspace 46, is drawn off through valve 1 l6, flow Qr2, relating to interspace 45, is drawn off through valve 117, flow Qs3, relating to interspace 50, is drawn off through valve 118; the last flow is subject to variation since the speed of the rod 7 may vary as a function of the resistance or lack of resistance encountered during the penetration operation.

Each of said valves is situated at the end of its respective pipe 53, 54, 55. The pipes, in order to be in a position to perform their double tasks, namely that of emptying and of delivery, divide into two branches with respect to their final length, in the vicinity of pump 106; of these two branches, one 19 (FIG. 5), namely the branch at the end of which is found one of the valves 116, 117, 118 and along which is situated one of the elements 122, 123, 124, about which more will be said later, is devoted solely to the drawing off of which mention has been made; the second branch 64 along which will be found one of the valves 119, 120, 121, is so arranged that its end connects with the conduit 125 and is used solely for the delivery of liquid; the result is that each of the said pipes 53, 54, 55 designed, by this form of division, to form a means of connecting its relative interspace with pump 106, on the one hand, and with its own drawoff point, on the other hand, is, in its entirety, composed of three distinct lengths, one of which, of rubber or similar material, is only a little shorter than the total length of the pipe itself and is used for the double purpose of delivery and of drawing off, the second (19),'being the first of the two branches, is in stainless steel, branches off at the base of the said first length and is used solely for drawing off, and the third length, being the second of the two branches, is also in stainless steel, branches off from the said first length and is used solely for the delivery'of liquid. The said lengths must, therefore, be constructed in such a way that they are capable of fulfilling the tasks for which they are designed, namely the third length, together with its valves 119, 120, 121, for the purpose of delivery only,the second, and its respective valves 116, 117, 118, for the purpose of drawing off only, and the first length in such a way that it can be used either for the filling of one or for the emptying of the other length. The second and third lengths are made of stainless steel since'they are required to carry valves and other accessories.

The forward and rearward travel movements of each of the telescopic elements is obtained by the closing and the opening I of the said liquid relief valves and, in cases where such movements involve the rod 7, by the additional closing and opening of the valve 89 (FIG. 5), relating to the cooling plant, of the valves 30, 31, and by the intervention of the pump 108. Such opening and closing of the relief valves, of the valves 30, 31, and the activation of the pump 108 are controlled by the electrical plant of the apparatus, which is of the remote control type.

Opening and closing of the relief valves (electrovalves) is, at the beginning of the forward travel of tube 38, obtained by manually-operated pushbuttons; subsequent forward movement from tube 38 to tube 37 and from tube 37 to the rod 7 are obtained automatically by means of the elements 122, 123, 124, (FIG. 5); these elements are formed of a U-tube (seen in an inverted position in the drawing), the ends of which are connected to the second length 64 of the pipes 53, 54, 55. In addition, the connections of the U-tubes are made as follows: one, upstream, with a normal section of the second spring, the task of the latter being to equilibrate the difierence in pressure; the small pistons are respectively connected to small rods 140, 141, 142 (FIG. 5) which pass watertight to the exterior. When the telescopic element reaches its maximum forward travel point, it stops its travel speed is zero and, as a result, the speed of drawofi flow in the second length is zero and the difference of pressure ceases to exist; the calibrated spring now shifts its piston and the respective small rod 140, 141, 142. On being thus shifted, the small rod activates the electrical plant of the apparatus and causes the closing and the opening of the relief valves (electrovalves) corresponding to the changeover of forward movement from the telescopic element which is now at a standstill at the end of such travel to the next such element; if such changeover relates to the rod 7, the small rod 141 of element 123 activates the electrical plant in such a way as to also cause the opening of valve (electrovalve) 89 of the cooling plant, as well as the opening, by means of the already-described switch 32, of the valves 30, 31 and the setting in motion of pump 108.

Element 124 comes into action in the way explained when the rod 7 reaches its point of maximum forward travel or meets an impenetrable layer or body; in either case, the small rod 142 of the element 124, by activating the electrical plant, leads to an arrangement of the relief valves that will lead to the return of the rod to its point of origin.

The changeover of rearward travel movement from one element to the next is also automatic; when one of the telescopic elements has reached its maximum rearward travel position, the flow Q of pump 106 has no further space to occupy and thus creates an excess of pressure in the interspace of the telescopic element concerned and this excess of pressure is exerted on the small piston 143, (FIG. 5); this small piston is provided with a suitably calibrated spring and is shifted; such shifting has the effect of moving the small rod 144 joined to the said small piston and this small rod, like small rods 140, 141, 142 of elements 122,123, 124, activates the electrical plant and causes the automatic closing and opening of the relief valves (electrovalves) mentioned and, if the telescopic ele ment in the rod 7, also causes the closing, via the switch 32, of the valves 30, 31, and of the valve (electrovalve) 89 of the cooling plant, as well as the arrest of the pump 108.

When the telescopic elements have been returned to their fully retracted position, a manually-operated pushbutton is used to disconnect the pump and to stop the motor.

The electrical plant, which is activated by the small rods 140, 141, 142, 144 of the elements 122, 123, 124, 143, must also be fitted with means for the opening of its circuits after use.

Recovery tank is supplied with liquid from outside by known means and is designed to hold the liquid required for the operation of the apparatus according to the invention and for the extinguishing of fires, as well as for the recovery of such liquid on its return from the operating cycle.

Excess pressure due to hammering in cases of rapid closing of the relief valves (electrovalves) of the pipes 52, 53, 54, 55

does not give rise to trouble, as can be seen from the formula Ap max. pc V; since the pipes are of rubber or similar material, the value of 0 will be only about 20 m./sec., whereas p 102 and V will always be rather small. The excess pressure Ap can only attain a range of values which, for practical purposes, can be treated as negligible.

Behavior of the load when the telescopic system is used at different levels: when the telescopic system is used at levels which by reference to the support surface of the transporting vehicle are different from the base level for which the system has proportioned, the base level being, of course, the mean of said differences, the working pressure values and the delivery and drawoff flow values must always be very close to the values which have been obtained for these factors in the proportioning for the base level. There are two reasons for this: in the first place, the differences in level can only vary over a narrow range; in the second place, the invariability of the cross section of the piping through which the liquid passes, on

13 l the one hand; and the behaviofof the head and the flow of the constant r.p.m. centrifugal pumps','when one of said factors is varied, on the other, act on each other in different directions;

for these reasons, then, the telescopic system, even when employed at a level different from the base level as described, readily finds a new balance between said pressure and flow factors, and is thus able to carry outits functions in the same way as it carries them out at the base level.

A second form of the'apparatus according to the invention is shown in FIG. 9. The second form of the apparatus is, as in thecase of the first form, discussed solely with reference to the type in whichonly one penetration rod is employed and differs from the first form in one particular only, namely that the tip 1, instead of rotating, is fixed to the rod; in the second form, therefore, the rod, when entering burning masses of material or fire-filled spaces, does so, by means of its tip, solely as a result of its axial thrust; the second form, therefore, un like the first form, does not need to be fitted with the following parts: shaft 4, arranged inside the rod 7, reducer gear 3, small turbine 2, valves 30, 31, control device for the opening and closing of the valves, cable 21 for the supply of current to the device, reel 63, pipe 27 and pump 108 for the removal of liquid from the small turbine. In the place of said parts, the second form carries the pipe 150 (FIG. 9), which is wound on and unwound from the reel 62 in the same way as the now no longer present pipe 27; the pipe 150 is, with respect to one of its ends, connected to the trolley 14 and thus communicates directly with the pipe 29, the rod 7 and nozzles 6, and, with respect to its other end, is connected, via the electrovalve 151, to the base of thepipe 52. p

In the case of the said second form, therefore, the liquid, driven by the pump 105, feeds the cooling plant and then, with respect to its extinguishing aliquot, passes through the pipe 150 and thence directly into the pipe 29, after which it follows the path common to the two forms of the invention, namely the pipe 29, the rod 7 and the nozzles 6. With respect to the aliquot requiredfor the shifting of the telescopic elements, this second aliquot follows the same course as that laid down for the first form, namely along the pipe 52; on reaching the space 51, however, the liquid, in the second form of the invention, is employed solely for the shifting on the telescopic elements.

lclaim:

1. A fire-extinguishing apparatus for delivery of liquid under pressure into a mass of burning material, comprising, in combination, elongated cylinder means having opposite closed ends; piston means fluidtightly guided in said cylinder means for movement in axial direction between said opposite closed ends; at least one hollow rod fixed at one end to said piston means for movement therewith in axial direction between a retracted and an advanced position, said rod extending fluidtightly, guided through and beyond one of said closed ends; a pointed tip connected to the other end of said hollow rod and being formed with bores therethrough communicating with the interior of said hollow rod; pump means for supplying a liquid under pressure; means for controlling flow of said liquid under pressure into and out from spaces respectively defined between said piston means and said opposite ends of said cylinder means to force said pointed tip into a mass of burning material, respectively retract therefrom; and further means for controlling flow of said liquid under pressure from the one space between said piston means and the other end of said cylinder means into the interior of said hollow rod when the latter is in said advanced position. I

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said tip is connected to said rod for rotation about the axis of the latter, and including means for rotating said tip about said axis.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said rotating means comprise a shaft connected at one end to said tip and extending in axial direction through said hollow rod, and drive means connected to the other end of said shaft for rotating the same about its axis.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, where n said piston means defines in its interior a plurality of adjacent fluidtight compartments, and wherein said drive means comprises a turbine located in one of said compartments, speed-reducing gear means located in an adjacent compartment for transmitting a drive from the turbine to the other end of said shaft, and means for controlling flow of liquid under pressure from said one space to said turbine.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, and including cutting means on the outer surface of said tip arranged to provide a cutting action during rotation of said tip.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said cylinder means comprises a plurality of coaxial tubes arranged in a telescoping manner within each other and radially spaced from each other so as to define interspaces between adjacent tubes, annular means respectively fixed to said tubes for closing said interspaces at opposite ends, and additional means for controlling flow of said liquid under pressure into and out from said interspaces for moving said tubes between expanded and retracted positions,'said piston means being arranged in the tube of smallest diameter.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, and including support means for supporting the outer ends of said plurality of tubes during movement of the latter to said expanded position.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said support means comprise a plurality of telescoping elements substantially parallel to and respectively fixedly connected to the outer ends of said tubes for movement therewith in axial direction, and a platform supporting said telescoping elements, said platform being movable in a direction substantially normal to the axes of said tubes.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, and including cooling means for cooling the outer ends of said plurality of tubes.

10. An apparatus as defined in claims"), wherein said cooling means comprise a plurality of annular conduits respectively surrounding said outer ends of the tubes and being formed with openings through which liquid under pressure may be sprayed onto the outer surface of said outer tube ends, flexible conduit means respectively connecting said annular conduits to each other and to said pump means, and control means for controlling flow of liquid from said pump means into said conduits.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said additional means for controlling flow of said liquid under pressure into and out of said interspaces comprises means for automatically controlling the flow of liquid into and out of said interspaces in such a manner that said tubes are moved in sequence one after the other from said retracted to said expanded positions and from the latter to said retracted positions.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, and including means 'for supporting said hollow rod in said tube of smallest diame- 

1. A fire-extinguishing apparatus for delivery of liquid under pressure into a mass of burning material, comprising, in combination, elongated cylinder means having opposite closed ends; piston means fluidtightly guided In said cylinder means for movement in axial direction between said opposite closed ends; at least one hollow rod fixed at one end to said piston means for movement therewith in axial direction between a retracted and an advanced position, said rod extending fluidtightly guided through and beyond one of said closed ends; a pointed tip connected to the other end of said hollow rod and being formed with bores therethrough communicating with the interior of said hollow rod; pump means for supplying a liquid under pressure; means for controlling flow of said liquid under pressure into and out from spaces respectively defined between said piston means and said opposite ends of said cylinder means to force said pointed tip into a mass of burning material, respectively retract therefrom; and further means for controlling flow of said liquid under pressure from the one space between said piston means and the other end of said cylinder means into the interior of said hollow rod when the latter is in said advanced position.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said tip is connected to said rod for rotation about the axis of the latter, and including means for rotating said tip about said axis.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said rotating means comprise a shaft connected at one end to said tip and extending in axial direction through said hollow rod, and drive means connected to the other end of said shaft for rotating the same about its axis.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said piston means defines in its interior a plurality of adjacent fluidtight compartments, and wherein said drive means comprises a turbine located in one of said compartments, speed-reducing gear means located in an adjacent compartment for transmitting a drive from the turbine to the other end of said shaft, and means for controlling flow of liquid under pressure from said one space to said turbine.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, and including cutting means on the outer surface of said tip arranged to provide a cutting action during rotation of said tip.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylinder means comprises a plurality of coaxial tubes arranged in a telescoping manner within each other and radially spaced from each other so as to define interspaces between adjacent tubes, annular means respectively fixed to said tubes for closing said interspaces at opposite ends, and additional means for controlling flow of said liquid under pressure into and out from said interspaces for moving said tubes between expanded and retracted positions, said piston means being arranged in the tube of smallest diameter.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, and including support means for supporting the outer ends of said plurality of tubes during movement of the latter to said expanded position.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said support means comprise a plurality of telescoping elements substantially parallel to and respectively fixedly connected to the outer ends of said tubes for movement therewith in axial direction, and a platform supporting said telescoping elements, said platform being movable in a direction substantially normal to the axes of said tubes.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, and including cooling means for cooling the outer ends of said plurality of tubes.
 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said cooling means comprise a plurality of annular conduits respectively surrounding said outer ends of the tubes and being formed with openings through which liquid under pressure may be sprayed onto the outer surface of said outer tube ends, flexible conduit means respectively connecting said annular conduits to each other and to said pump means, and control means for controlling flow of liquid from said pump means into said conduits.
 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said additional means for controlling flow of said liquid under pressure into and out of said interspaces compRises means for automatically controlling the flow of liquid into and out of said interspaces in such a manner that said tubes are moved in sequence one after the other from said retracted to said expanded positions and from the latter to said retracted positions.
 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, and including means for supporting said hollow rod in said tube of smallest diameter movable in axial direction relative thereto and comprising a plurality of coaxial cylinders radially spaced from each other by annular elements respectively located between and fluidtightly engaging adjacent ones of said cylinders.
 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, and including electrical means for actuating said control means and said further control means. 